graf 1: that is a gold-star way to study. Keep doing it.kentuckybred wrote:I've been studying the LSAT recently for a take in this December (I will be unable to take in September for scheduling reasons (ugh!)). Anyway, my experience as a studier is that the magic seems to happen when you are discussing to yourself why certain answers are incorrect vs. why certain answers are correct. It seems as though this type of processing allows for you to somehow better process questions the next time around. It seems subtle, but I think it's what is key for me. I was at a stand still here for a while with scores, but recently my LR in particular and even slightly my RC have been rising when taking tests. What I like to do is pretend (embarrassing) I am teaching a class and telling them why this answer choice is correct and why this answer choice is incorrect, etc. etc. Does anyone else do this and think that this is really key here?
I've also noticed one other thing. It seems as though (an LR, really) when I go through the questions and I can't decide on an answer, when I get back to that question my perception on the question is very different and it becomes more clear. I feel like when I just stick at a question for 2-3 minutes and waste time I am stuck in the same approach mindset I had when I read it to begin with, so I'm stuck no matter what. But when I come back to it with some more 'experience' under my belt and a fresh perspective, sometimes the question/answer will pop! right out of me. Does this happen to anyone else?
I've also noticed trends in my confidence/morale/time taking for these tests. There is no doubt that with a full pallet of time my scores would be much better. It seems, though, when I am under the pressure of the clock I will usually get stuck on say 2-3 really difficult questions and then I'll feel like I am in a time cramp for the rest, hindering my processing ability. This is a great problem and contrasts an approach I outlined previously. I guess I may just need to learn to move on despite my hesitations otherwise. Also, in LR especially, it seems as if once I start getting to question 11,12,13, I start to just have this uneasiness about me that I am about to get 'fucked'. And I believe strongly that this is in part why my perspective is sometimes flawed (as I described in previous paragraph). It's like doing practice LR problems that you KNOW are REALLY HARD. You just psych yourself out into thinking, "fuck this shit is hard, I'm screwed". Anyone else deal with this and overcome it? I know my confidence is building with better and better scores, and hopefully this will help me not have this kind of psychological/mental problem, but it seems to be sticking nonetheless.
Looking forward to responses!
graf 2: yes, and I suspect it's a pretty standard feeling
graf 3: that is an artificial difficulty of the test, but one you have to overcome. It will go away with practice and confidence in your abilities.
